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Dear friends
I hope this finds you well, and that you have found safety and
peace during these challenging times. This is our third JPIT newsletter during
the pandemic. Much has changed, and as ever we have valued your support in
raising some of the critical and urgent justice issues prevalent during this
time.
At JPIT, we’ve been working to find ways of supporting the
Church to live out our calling to peace and justice during the pandemic. This
has meant keeping a focus on the most marginalised during this crisis, and
raising our voice together to call for just policy changes which promote
equality.
In this newsletter, we’ve got exciting updates about our work,
including information about JPIT’s very first webinar. Some of you will be facing new and deepened challenges at this time. We want to hear your experiences of injustices during the pandemic, so that they can be listened to and learnt from quickly. You can find ways to get in touch below.
May you find space for connection whilst we are apart.
Every Blessing,
Hannah
Campaigns and Church Engagement Officer
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We’re hosting our first webinar!
Join JPIT for a panel discussion, reflection and Q&A to ask:
- How do we live in a crisis and work for God’s kingdom?
- How has COVID-19 changed the environment in which Christians
are seeking peace and pursuing justice?
- What priorities should we have in our response to urgent need?
- How we can act today to help build justice, in the present
and the future?
Including:
Rev Diane Watts, Head of Faith and Society – The Baptist
Union
Paul Morrison, Policy Advisor on Poverty and Inequality –
The Methodist Church
Simeon Mitchell, Secretary for Church and Society – The
United Reformed Church
Very Rev Dr Susan Brown, Convener of the Faith Impact Forum
– The Church of Scotland
When: Thursday 21st May, 3 – 3:45pm
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Gleanings: Listening and Learning to Poverty Under Lockdown
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The Joint Public Issues Team and Church Action on Poverty have started an ongoing programme of research looking at and listening to the experiences of poverty during the pandemic, with churches and local charities. Through surveys and regular focus group conversations we are aiming to understand the impacts being seen on the ground.
You can read the first snapshot of findings here:
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The situation is rapidly developing. It’s important that we continue to hear from those who are directly experiencing increased pressure of poverty as a result of the pandemic. If you have something to share, get in touch through our survey, or by emailing us at enquiries@jointpublicissues.org.uk.
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Racial Injustice Highlighted by COVID-19
People from ethnic minority backgrounds in the UK have been disproportionately dying from Coronavirus. This stark inequality must be addressed.
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International Development
How does COVID-19 affect international development? Rosella explores how partnerships can be created during the pandemic.
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Welcoming the Stranger – Increase Asylum Support
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People seeking asylum receive just £5.39 per day to live on.
In normal times, this isn’t enough. During a pandemic, it puts lives at risk.
In March, the
government raised Universal Credit, in recognition that people on low incomes
would need extra support to adapt to the crisis. So we’re calling on the government to increase
asylum support too, to make sure everyone in our communities receives the support
they need.
Could you write to your MP, to ask them to support the change? Use Refugee Action’s quick form to email your MP.
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Last month, we asked for your support to call for refugees
in Greek camps to be reunited with their families in the UK. We’re delighted that this week, over 50 of these
families have been brought back together.
Thankyou to all those who wrote to their MP on this issue. You can read more about this here.
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We’ve been praying for justice and peace around the world
through our Stay and Pray initiative for over six weeks now. It’s been moving
to see the depth of engagement in prayer for communities and individuals across the world,
who are facing increased pressure during this time.
You can follow our daily prayer prompts on Facebook and Twitter, or sign up to receive them
via email here.
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 Church Action for Tax Justice online service
Our friends at Church Action for Tax Justice
have prepared an online service, to mark Tax Justice Sunday coming up on 14th
June. You can find this here.
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